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Firm withdraws from planning stage of arts project

Posted November 3, 2006; 12:00 p.m.

by Staff

Renzo Piano Building Workshop, the Paris-based architectural firm that has been helping the University design an arts neighborhood
near the intersection of University Place and Alexander Street, has
asked to be allowed to withdraw from the planning stage of the project
because it was concerned it no longer had the time to commit to the
planning phase of the project given other commissions.

"Despite its enormous international distinction, RPBW remains a
relatively small firm, and Renzo Piano himself takes a personal
interest in every project," said Princeton's Executive Vice President
Mark Burstein. "They have been exceedingly helpful in shaping our
initial thinking about the arts neighborhood, and we are very grateful
for the creativity and insight they have brought to the project. This
project is complicated and will be time-consuming, not only as we seek
to achieve multiple objectives, but as we work with the community to
develop appropriate planning and zoning frameworks for the site. We
respect the decision by RPBW that it would not be able to devote the
requisite time to the planning phase of the project, and we are hopeful
that they may re-engage when we are ready to begin designing buildings
for the site."

Work on the design of the neighborhood will continue without
interruption under the leadership of Beyer Blinder Belle, the
architecture and planning firm that is leading the University's overall
campus planning project. BBB has been working closely with RPBW on the arts neighborhood project from its inception.

"BBB has been fully engaged in planning for the arts neighborhood from
the beginning, and we will be in very good hands as they now take on
sole responsibility for managing the project," Burstein said. "We look
forward to building on the work that already has been done and to
conversations about this project that we will be having with our
trustees and with the community over the coming months. Because of
where it is and what it is aiming to accomplish, this is a
high-priority project for the University and for the
community."

The arts neighborhood and other elements of the University's campus planning project will be featured at an open forum
on Wednesday, Nov. 8, to which all members of the campus and
neighboring communities have been invited. The open house will take
place in Chancellor Green on the Princeton campus between 3 and 7
p.m.